in my κούκλα era

Hey besties! While I have been marinating and baking in the sun (with spf 50, thank you very much), I’ve been thinking about what topic to explore first and figured I would start with the hot topic of SKINCARE + AIRPLANES.

Plot twist: don’t trust influencer videos. While it seems super cool to bring your skincare routine on a flight, you’re actually not doing your skin any favors. Actually, leave your retinols at home and focus instead on using your vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and hydration products while on vacation. Changes in humidity, sleep levels, sun exposure and air quality can all change how your skin reacts to your normal chemicals and the LAST thing you want is to stress out your skin while you’re trying to look cute. That is not a vibe. 

But I digress, today’s discussion is skincare on flights so here we go.

Visualize with me: you’ve committed to sitting in 19A for 7+ hours on an overnight international flight, with your cute outfit and functional carryon, ready to sleep and dream about the fashions you’ll see, adventures you’ll have and gelato you’ll eat on vacation.

Sounds fab, right? Sorry to burst your bubble sweet cheeks but the reality is that 19A is also a place where someone else sat before you for x hours and most likely farted, drooled, defecated (I hope not) and otherwise defiled. You still want to slather your eye cream and lip mask on after touching all of that?

Didn’t think so.

HOWEVER. You also should not be showing up to a new country at 6am looking crusty with day-old products on your face. So what’s the happy medium between your home 2000000 step skincare routine and nothing at all on an overnight flight?

Here is the maximum of what you need to do on a plane to show up to your destination looking fabulous, rested, hydrated and fresh, all from the comfort of 19A (which you hopefully thoroughly wiped down before settling in):

1. Hydrate

This seems like it might be super common sense but the #1 way to take care of your skin is to hydrate, and this is especially true when you are traveling. I am part water snob, part baby so I prefer bottles that have straw drinking things to avoid making a mess in my lap and looking like I couldn’t take my seatbelt off in time to head to the bathroom.

2. Cleanse, a 2 step process

Part 1: Use a hand wipe or 15 of them. I like ones that are the Venn Diagram of “these fit in my purse” and “my husband told me to buy these”, so I assume they are good at disinfecting and making things less gross.

Part 2: Use a waterless cleanser and a cotton round to remove your daily spf, makeup and other face icks. I personally love the 9-5 Cleanser from Lush Cosmetics. It comes in TSA approved sizes, is super hydrating, doesn’t strip your skin, and has a light scent that won’t disturb your neighbors. I put some on a few cotton rounds and just rub it all over my face, then try to do the same to my husband as he is sleeping. Sharing skincare is the truest sign of love. ❤️

3. Moisturize but make it iNtEnSe

After using another 15 million hand wipes, I moisturize with what is probably the most hydrating product I own, the Danessa Myricks Moisture Repair Balm Serum. This product is like a solid form of an oil, so I only use it in areas I know tend to be dry when traveling–around my nose, and a bit of my T-zone. My face may look like a Krispy Kreme donut after this but by this point, the lights are out and I don’t really care. Best part is that Danessa loves us and included a spatula to scoop this product out so we don’t have to touch the pot. A truly conscientious queen. *cries in germs*

4. Lip Mask

I have been using the Laneige Lip Mask since it came out in the US market and I have yet to find another product to replace it on my nightstand, which is why its earned its place in my travel bag. You know the little spatula it comes with? USE IT. RIGHT NOW. Forget the hand wipes and don’t even think about putting your fingers into this and then on your lips. The thought alone just made me gag.

5. After sleeping–the optional step

Once I wake up from my 2 second nap, I’ll use the waterless cleanser again and apply my EltaMD Tinted Sunscreen shortly before landing. I prefer the tinted version as it provides a minimal amount of coverage, which helps avoid clogging my pores with makeup. You can also add some color back into your face by using some blush drops. I am currently using the Drunk Elephant O-Bloos drops. Tbh, this product is #pass. You can find better drugstore options than this with more staying power and pigment.

There you have it, besties. A complete AND REALISTIC skincare routine that’ll keep your skin clean and hydrated on a flight and ready for landing, just in time to find out that your luggage is still 600 miles away (PS: If you aren’t using Airtags in your suitcases, BUY SOME NOW).